DS TWO-UP 01: CALIENTE HOT SPRINGS
ORIENTATION
ORIENTATION
What . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dualsport Ride, short day
When . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meet Saturday, 15 December, 7:30 AM
Where . . . . . . .Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County
When . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meet Saturday, 15 December, 7:30 AM
Where . . . . . . .Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County
Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laine_MacTague
If you have not yet read, or have not yet memorized – the VCDSRS General Ride Orientation Please look over it by clicking HERE.
DST rides are not part of the VCDSRS Master Plan, as it were. They are designed to be relaxing and fun, and provide opportunities for experienced riders to bring along a passenger, or for new riders to get some basic dual sport riding experience in a relaxed environment. Just as the more challenging Rides in the Plan often have optional go-arounds for novice riders, DST rides will often have optional routes available for more experienced riders.
WHERE WE GO
Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County @ 7:30AM Saturday (NOT SUNDAY) December 15th. Show up on time with at least 100 miles worth of fuel.
After some lollygagging at the shop (I will not be the usual time-Nazi I am on long DS Rides), we will take back roads to Santa Barbara. Passengers may want to know that this should take about 1-1.75 hours, depending. In Santa Barbara, So Cool will host us at his house for yet more lollygagging. He and Shannon usually have coffee and treats for us. There will be a refuel stop as we leave So Cool’s, which may be near an hour after we get there. Time flies when you’re having… er, coffee and muffins, or what have you…
From the gas station near So Cool’s we will wind up the west face of the coast range, and then carry on winding along the ridgeline, and then, well, more winding on pretty well-graded dirt, down into the backcountry. I bet this whole section takes close to another hour – at the end of which, those of us who want can enjoy the hot amphibious lollygagging opportunity that awaits us – or you can drop off your passenger and bags, or whatever, and go racing around the local fire roads. They’re all dead ends, so it’s pretty hard to get lost.
I figure an hour of soaking will turn almost anyone into a prune, so let’s plan on meeting at the hot springs about an hour after we get there. That’s a soft plan; we can make it longer, go for short hikes, fix the odd flat tire…
While at the hot springs we have an important job to accomplish; we simply must decide where in Santa Barbara we would like to have lunch. From the hot springs we will head back out and up and over and down the coast range. If you’ve been keeping track of the time estimates, lunch is looking like something around 1:45 – 2:30, if we take about 45 minutes to get back into town. As is the entire ride, lunch is optional; if you need to race off, feel free. If lunch takes an hour and a half, those of us from down the coast will be heading homeward by about four-ish.
At least, those are my estimates.
WHAT GOES [Items listed here represent changes to the list in the General Orientation, to which you should refer if you can’t recall what is listed there…]
DST rides are not part of the VCDSRS Master Plan, as it were. They are designed to be relaxing and fun, and provide opportunities for experienced riders to bring along a passenger, or for new riders to get some basic dual sport riding experience in a relaxed environment. Just as the more challenging Rides in the Plan often have optional go-arounds for novice riders, DST rides will often have optional routes available for more experienced riders.
WHERE WE GO
Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County @ 7:30AM Saturday (NOT SUNDAY) December 15th. Show up on time with at least 100 miles worth of fuel.
After some lollygagging at the shop (I will not be the usual time-Nazi I am on long DS Rides), we will take back roads to Santa Barbara. Passengers may want to know that this should take about 1-1.75 hours, depending. In Santa Barbara, So Cool will host us at his house for yet more lollygagging. He and Shannon usually have coffee and treats for us. There will be a refuel stop as we leave So Cool’s, which may be near an hour after we get there. Time flies when you’re having… er, coffee and muffins, or what have you…
From the gas station near So Cool’s we will wind up the west face of the coast range, and then carry on winding along the ridgeline, and then, well, more winding on pretty well-graded dirt, down into the backcountry. I bet this whole section takes close to another hour – at the end of which, those of us who want can enjoy the hot amphibious lollygagging opportunity that awaits us – or you can drop off your passenger and bags, or whatever, and go racing around the local fire roads. They’re all dead ends, so it’s pretty hard to get lost.
I figure an hour of soaking will turn almost anyone into a prune, so let’s plan on meeting at the hot springs about an hour after we get there. That’s a soft plan; we can make it longer, go for short hikes, fix the odd flat tire…
While at the hot springs we have an important job to accomplish; we simply must decide where in Santa Barbara we would like to have lunch. From the hot springs we will head back out and up and over and down the coast range. If you’ve been keeping track of the time estimates, lunch is looking like something around 1:45 – 2:30, if we take about 45 minutes to get back into town. As is the entire ride, lunch is optional; if you need to race off, feel free. If lunch takes an hour and a half, those of us from down the coast will be heading homeward by about four-ish.
At least, those are my estimates.
WHAT GOES [Items listed here represent changes to the list in the General Orientation, to which you should refer if you can’t recall what is listed there…]
YOU MIGHT LIKE TO BRING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOU SHOULD BRING
Hiking shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swimming attire & towel
Hiking shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swimming attire & towel
Saddlebags, not the best idea on DS Rides or SkilzDrilz, are fine on DS Two-ups. Basically, bring whatever you like. Maybe the Israelis will bring the Jetboil and make Turkish coffee again…
PLANNED STOPS [“2-3P” means “Second stop on the third paved section.” “D” = dirt]
I think I covered this in the first section. No other planned stops. By the way: I won’t be leading terribly fast, but we WILL be using standard formation. Expect to get posted if you are my wingman (er, pegman, I suppose).
KNOWN HAZARDS
Last time I was there, the water was REALLY hot! Previously though, it was perfect. We shall see.
We will be riding on Balcolm Canyon Rd at one point. There is always gravel in the corners. Furthermore, the coastal ridge we will be riding is paved, but riddled with potholes and gravel as well; basically a semi-off-road pavement section. Be advised.
There are a couple of paved water crossings. These are always sketchy. If you are worried about sliding out of control on a flat plane of wet algae-covered concrete, let me know at So Cool’s and we’ll discuss tactics.
Always remember that we are not the only Forest users. Watch for traffic of all sorts on those twisty dirt roads. DSR 10 I nearly had a bobcat jump in my lap…
PRIMARY CHALLENGES
With a little luck, choosing our lunch stop will be the worst of it. Consider yourself oriented! See you soon.
1 comments. Click here to add yours!:
There is a pretty good Vietnamese place on Milpas called Saigon...
The Montecito Cafe has the best food in town for the price - and the service is actually great!
The Natural Cafe is great for vegetarians, but I think their food is quite bland.
Lazy Acres has an eating area in their deli. It's a bit spendy for what it is, but at least the food is organic.
Zaytoon is good middle eastern food - and they have outside dining.
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